Translation: ling gan @ http://asianfanatics.net
Michelle Yip went to school alone in America when she was only 13. Despite her independent looks, she actually wants to have her father’s attention. People all think that she is flirtatious and outgoing, but what she loves most is reading
She has acted as a chaste lady, but she also has acted as a prostitute. She was once praised as the Hong Kong’s new beauty, but there were also some negative news about her on the newspaper and magazines. Michelle Yip Suen is a riddle in many people’eyes. From all of these faces, which one is the true her?
In a certain free afternoon, Michelle Yip was specially interviewed by the
Working at the age of 13, being a good student to get father’s attention
Michelle had an unusual childhood. Her parents divorced when she was 9. She grew up with her father, but her father was busy working so they only met each other once a month. When she was 13, she went to school alone in America, and she even was a “child labor.” Reminiscing the past, Michelle said, I gain more than I lose.
Reporter ®: I know that you went to school alone in America when you were 13…
Michelle Yip (MY): Yes, I lived by myself, and I even worked at that time. This makes me a bit mature compared with my peers.
R: Isn’t it illegal to work when you were 13 in America?
MY: Yes, it is. I accepted an offer from a tape rental store. The lady boss was from China, she asked me: “Are you already 16?” I lied to her, “I’m a bit more than 15.” I pretended to look experienced. I still remember that when I started to work my salary was USD$2.25 per hour, but after one or two weeks, the lady boss gave me a raise to USD$2.75 per hour. At that time, I took many series and film tapes home to watch, I guess this influenced me to work in the entertainment world.
R: You majored in political science in America, but how come you could join Miss Chinese International?
MY: I studied political science because I was following the trend, as at that time, many people were studying this. Actually, I quite like it, because since I was young I like to study history. Joining the pageant was kind of accidental. It was winter holiday, and I went to a bridal gown rental shop to find some head ornaments for my school’s dancing team. The lady boss there knew that I could dance, so she told me to join the pageant. Quite surprisingly, I won the first place.
R: What do most of your classmates do for a living?
MY: Most of them are lawyers. That was my dream too in the first place. I was quite good in school back then, I was even given a scholarship. Maybe because at that time I think that it was the only thing that could get my father’s attention.
R: You never really spent time with your father?
MY: Yes, we only met once in a month. He gave USD$500 for a month’s expense, and when I scored the highest in a test in my class, he would give $200 more. I worked very hard to score the highest at the high school graduation, because I was hoping that he would come to my graduation ceremony. But he didn’t.
R: What impact does your growing environment give you?
MY: The impact is big, there are positive and negative ones, but the former surpasses the latter. I became independent, it made my ability to observe people and things around me stronger than my peers, because no one told me how to do things. The negative impact would be I don’t really know how to communicate with others, especially with strangers. At many times I might be too honest, like when I like or dislike someone, I will show it obviously, as I won’t beat around the bush. But everything always has two different sides, honesty sometimes can make some people feel uncomfortable, but other people think that I’m sincere. I’ve been learning to care more about others’ feelings now, though.
Acted in Central Affairs, then was tied up with negative news, making her perplexed
Because she was famous after winning the Miss Chinese International at the age of 19, she joined TVB. Her looks were innocent and attractive, thus making her easily welcomed by the audience. She acted in many series, but when her career was at its peak, she left for working in the film industry. Many people didn’t understand her choice, but Michelle answered it in simple way: Who doesn’t want to star in the big screen?
R: Back then when you’re still with TVB, you had a nickname, Little Jessica Hsuan. I heard that you have a quite good rapport with her?
MY: I’m quite happy with this nickname. This proves that my looks are not bad. Jessica and I are good sisters.
R: You’ve built a good beautiful image, but why did you act as an evil lady in
MY: That was my first piece of work with Media Asia. The company projected me from “xiao hua dan” to “da qing yi”, so I had to break my old image. I also thought that I can’t always act as a youthful innocent girl, as I’ll have to go this way, sooner or later.
R: But after you acted the role, there were more and more negative news about you out there…
MY: Yes, you’re right. But that series actually is not that unusual, because after that many Hong Kong series were also like that, having the good and the evil. But at that time, series like Central Affairs were not that many. I was quite perplexed by the distortion of the facts that the public had. Fortunately, I had a very good management team, as they always protected me. They even didn’t let me read many things reported by the paparazzi. I also was telling myself that the image given by a certain role would pass away, the most important thing is I can’t stop trying things, I can’t give myself up. Actually right now, I’m quite grateful to that role, because it helped me discover my adaptability.
R: You’ve once had a TVB fa dan identity, but why did you change gears to the film industry?
MY: It is due to fate. At that time, Media Asia approached me and gave me this opportunity, and I felt that it was very tempting, starring on a big screen, it is the dream of every actor.
R: What kind of advantage over other actresses do you think you have? I realize that your Mandarin is very standard, knowing that you’re from Hang Zhou, that point quite shocks me.
MY: Right. I think speaking good Mandarin is my biggest advantage, many directors also said that. Maybe because my Cantonese is also standard, so everybody thinks that I’m from Hong Kong. Although I’m deeply attached to Hong Kong as I’ve worked there for quite a long time, still I came from Hang Zhou! My parents are all there, that’s why I think that my home is in Hang Zhou, while Hong Kong is only my workplace.
Concentrating in the film industry, Johnnie To personally demonstrated how to cook
These years, Michelle has starred as the female lead in 3 Hong Kong movies consecutively, and she had to collaborate with great directors and experienced actors. But frankly speaking, because there were a lot of male scenes, Michelle didn’t really appear much in those movies.
R: After you’ve been concentrating to work in the film industry, you’ve played as a wife in 3 different movies consecutively. Like in the movie
MY: The director told me in the beginning, I didn’t have to prepare much for my role, but I had to have a flash point at the crucial moment, which was the scene that you just talked about. It’s a common sense that a mother could not do that because if she’s really that violent in scolding the abductor, he might have killed her son, so I put myself in hysteria, unable to control my emotions, being irrational.
R: In the movie
MY: The role was in a hopeless situation, again the kind of a hysterical woman. My screen time was not much, so the director, Dante Lam, said that I had to go straight to the point. I enjoyed the filming process of the movie, because Richie, Huang Xiao Ming and I could watch
R: I saw one of your series
MY: Johnnie To gave me a big space. Even though my screen time was not much, but there was a finishing touch there. In the beginning, my looks were unkempt, and I was even shocked to see myself in the mirror. But then after being made-up, I was given a gold wig, and the effect was surprising.
R: Did Johnnie To teach you how to act?
MY: I still remember that on the first day, my first scene was cooking, and I was very nervous, because I can’t cook. Seeing Johnnie’s and Anthony’s serious looks, I thought they were very stern. But surprisingly, Johnnie can cook, he even demonstrated to me how to stir fry some vegetables. I felt guilty because in the filming crew, I was the only actor who was taught specifically how to act. After that Anthony, Lin Xue, and Lim Jia Dong all taught me. At that time I felt that I was the only newbie there, and was afraid that my acting would be bad, thus making a trouble for everyone.
R: You look quite seasoned in the movie.
MY: It’s all made up! I’m usually very childish, I say what I think without fear, and they always patted my head, and laughed at me as if I’m a big kid.
The sex scandal queen, actually is afraid to marry into a rich and powerful family
Michelle Yip is actually a very ambitious woman. But not ambitious in the way that most people think, her ambition is not to get a position and to marry with a wealthy man. She wants to be like Hillary Clinton, not the first lady, but the United States Secretary of State.
R: You’ve once had the nickname of the Sex Scandal Queen. You’ve even been linked with Wallace Huo, Tian Liang, Xiong Ni, etc, because you’ve once said that you have a good opinion of these people. Is it really true that all of this are only rumors?
MY: 95% of them are only hearsay, thus baseless. Just think this way, I’m itching to have 48 hours in a day, and how come would I have so much time to date so many boyfriends? I even didn’t have enough time to sleep. They said that I was the sex scandal queen, and I really had a pretty bad time. But I learned not to take it to heart. Which actress that doesn’t have this kind of experience? I’m no exception. My trouble is when I think someone’s good, I will say it out.
R: So do you have a boyfriend now?
MY: I’m still single.
R: Do you want to marry into a rich and powerful family one day?
MY: No, I certainly don’t. I’m this bold and how can I marry into such family? Moreover, I don’t want to live a life that I don’t like for the sake of riches.
R: What kind of guy that you like?
MY: I love a guy who has his own thinking, and is a talented one. It would be great if he’s handsome. I also hope that he’s an upright man, whether in a poor or rich condition. He has to go for his own goals, and must be a resolute man. Whether in the end he’s successful or not is not important, particularly success in terms of wealth, I won’t highly regard it.
R: I heard that your idol is Hillary Clinton? What are the things that you admire her for?
MY: Yes, she’s my idol, she’s my senior in my university! I admire her for her independence, strength, and extensive knowledge. Of course, she’s not that successful in her private life, and I won’t copy that. I also admire Dodo Cheng, because she’s a powerful woman. I once saw her in a painting exhibition, but I didn’t even dare to ask for her autograph.
R: Your idols are powerful ladies. What is your career goal?
MY: I want to be a capable person! Qing yi can also be beautiful, as I love the more mature female roles, a historical figure like Empress Wu for example; even an insignificant figure that gets close to life. I love to try things. Tell you something, I’ve just had a haircut, and it’s short, extremely short, I will appear with this hairstyle in Dante Lam’s newest movie.
R: I heard that you often read books, especially history books.
MY: Yes, actually my life is quite dull, only watching movies, chatting with friends, reading books, but it is already enriching for me. I’ve been rereading
Personal Profile
Birth date: February 14, 1980
Zodiac: Aquarius
Chinese zodiac: Monkey
Blood type: O
Place of origin: Hang Zhou, Zhe Jiang
Height: 166 cm
Weight: 45 kg
Body measurements: 34-34-34
Education: Wellesley College, majoring in political science
Specialty: Learn dancing at the age of 6
Career Record
Michelle joined the Miss Chinese International 1999 and won the first place and the “Miss Classic Beauty” award. She also signed a contract with TVB in the same year. In 2005, she signed a contract with the Hong Kong film production and distributor company, Media Asia.
Filmography= Series:
Films:
Quotation
“德胜才谓之君子，才胜德谓之小人”
(I’m sorry I don’t know what this means, and cannot find the translation in the internet either. It would be great if anyone of you who’re reading this can help me translate :))
Conditions in being famous
Outside appearance
Michelle Yip’s looks are very Oriental, her face lacks a bit of a three-dimensional effect though. But her eyes’ components are very rich, with just a little make-up, she can appear in different styles.
Capability
I can see her capability in one of her movies,
Luck
Giving up her fa dan identity in TVB proves that she’s very courageous. Although HK and some other collaboration movies have more men scenes, while women are only for decorations, Michelle’s roles have been unforgettable. Being conversant in English and Mandarin, Michelle will have more competitive strength than many other HK actresses in starring in HK, HK and China, and even the entire Asian collaboration movie production.
Michelle’s Image in the Reporter’s Eye
I had to contact Media Asia to make an appointment in interviewing Michelle, surprisingly there’s an unfamiliar number calling my cell phone right away, it was Michelle calling me. But right at that time, I was doing something else, and hurriedly said sorry to her, also asked her whether we could meet a bit later, and then she politely answered, “It’s fine, I’m free in the whole afternoon, when are you free?” My colleague all laughingly said, “You put on more airs than a big star?” Indeed, being a reporter for this long, I’m used to have delays in meeting with big stars, and Michelle is the only one that ever asked me, when are you free? It is only the first surprise that I got. The other surprises are her Mandarin that is very standard, so standard that she can even host a program, the generous and optimistic spirit in telling me about her father’s neglecting her when she was still young, her sincere look when talking about marrying into a rich family…also, about
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